Emmet Moloney writes for the 'Farmers Journal' and is a former sports columnist with 'The Kerryman'.

There’s no getting away from 2 May. All of Ireland will stop at 5.30pm to watch the clash of the titans in Croker. What a day we have in store. It can’t come quick enough. Between now and then, we will have the ticket worries, the talk of Phil-Leap-A and, no doubt, the slagging will be mighty.

It’s been some year for Irish rugby, and this All-Ireland final puts the tin hat on it. Leinster rode their luck on Sunday to get there, but the bravery of their performance deserved victory. Munster, on the other hand, were imperious and clinical.

If you have to pick holes in Munster’s display, you could actually make the case that they didn’t play that well. But every single chance they had, they seemed to take.
Leinster fell over the line, but showed character some (myself included) doubted they possessed. Brian O’Driscoll, of course, makes such a difference to them and any team he plays on. With Rocky the Aussie leading the pack from the front, they had leadership in key places. While they will definitely be underdogs, there is hope for Leinster. On current form, Munster look certainties for the Heineken Cup, but the game with Leinster carries a health warning. I suspect it wouldn’t have broken Munster hearts if Harlequins had beaten Leinster.

With the All-Ireland final comes a lot of hoopla, and probably a build-up Munster didn’t need. There will be so much talk about Contepomi and the Lions captaincy and what happened three years ago in Lansdowne Road.

Remember, Leinster are due a serious game against Munster. They can’t keep flopping on the big day. Munster will know this. Local derbies are notorious for upsets. Felipe owes Leinster nothing after a couple of great years with the province, but one big performance against Munster would be some send off. He is flaky – of that there is no doubt – but he can be brilliant, and drama being what it is, I half expect him to play a serious game. His opposite number, Ronan O’Gara, seems to revel in these occasions, but Michael Cheika will have noted his defence against the Ospreys. It was very poor and in such a key game, Leinster will target O’Gara. Of course, he always responds when the light is shone on him, but whatever Munster plan to do with Felipe, Leinster will be scratching at Ronan. The craic between supporters will be the highlight of the next two or three weeks. Last time out, Munster took over Lansdowne Road, but this time around the East coast will be better represented. With the seats being equally distributed, Munster will find it harder to prise tickets from their neighbours.

Now to the undercurrent. Two weeks ago, there was bad blood between the teams in Thomond Park. Johnny Sexton appeared to kick Munster centre Mafi in the face. Sexton was subsequently banned for the offence, and having been at the game, I could hear the Munster reactions on the field. They were not impressed. If Sexton gets any game time in Croke Park, he’ll be wearing a target on his back.

Marcus Horan is a man I’ll be watching closely as well. He seems to be the one that gets under Contepomi’s skin the most. If he gets a chance to hit Felipe (legally, I stress), then that tackle will be made with interest. The bragging rights between the teams are most important. Leinster are well and truly fed up hearing about Munster this and Munster that. Their supporters naturally admire and respect the Men in Red, but don’t like the “Lady Boy” jokes and the constant questioning of their guts on the big day.
The Munster story is the biggest success story in Irish rugby; its effect is nothing short of phenomenal. But in assuming the premier position in European club rugby, Leinster have been largely forgotten. They have a massive chip on their shoulders as a result, and if the roles were reversed, Munster would definitely feel the same. But they’re not!

Should Munster win again, the debate will be well and truly over. That will stick in a lot of throats around South Dublin. And this is their motivation. A chance to put Munster in their place. They won’t be saying it out loud, but Leinster will fancy this. They won their quarter-final the right way, by the skin of their teeth.

Munster, on the other hand, were hugely impressive. Luckily for Munster supporters, their team doesn’t do anticlimaxes on the big day. It is set up to be one hell of a weekend. As a Munster man, I’ll be both nervous and excited. As a Clareman, this might be my only chance to follow my team to Croker this summer.

Farewell to Nicky Brennan, a quintessential GAA man

Nicky Brennan had the unique distinction of handing over the Liam McCarthy Cup to Kilkenny captains in each of his three years as President of the GAA. He deserved it as well, because Brennan was a good Uachtaráin, steering the GAA ship with steady hands over the past three years. Nicky was strong when he needed to be, speaking out on some occasions and saying very little at others, a rare quality these days. He was a quintessential GAA man. He followed Sean Kelly, a man who revelled in the spotlight and hung his presidency on the opening of Croke Park. Nicky’s tenure was marked by his solidity. Christy Cooney takes over this Saturday, and Cork will be hoping he has Nicky’s lucky touch, although I suspect Nicky, who has earned his lifetime seat in the Ard Comhairle, will be enjoying the Hurling Final in his off-duty capacity. Cooney’s face will be a different one, but the fella receiving the cup will have the familiar black and amber on him.

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